Dates of implementation: August 2023 – ongoing

Partners: European Union in Bosnia and Herzegovina

The European Union in Bosnia and Herzegovina, in partnership with the Post-Conflict Research Center (PCRC), organizes the State of Peace Youth Academy as an annual regional program held every August in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Since its launch in 2023, three editions of the Academy have been successfully implemented, each bringing together 50 young people from across the Western Balkans.

The Academy gathers youth aged 18–30 from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Montenegro, and Serbia for a two-week, cross-country program hosted in multiple cities, including Tuzla, Brčko, Ugljevik, Sarajevo, East Sarajevo, Travnik and Vitez. Through more than 15 interactive activities, participants engage in dialogue, skill-building, and exchange aimed at strengthening understanding, tolerance, and cooperation among young people in the region.

With the overarching goal of contributing to a more peaceful and democratic future in the Western Balkans, the State of Peace Youth Academy focuses on strengthening youth capacities and social capital, empowering participants to make meaningful change in their communities. The program emphasizes learning how to cherish and celebrate the cultural, social, and religious diversity of the Balkans and wider Europe, while fostering lasting local and regional connections.